Kent Driscoll
Northern News Services

Pelly Bay (Nov 07/05) - After missing a year's worth of deadlines, Canada Post has received another extension from the Kugaaruk hamlet council.

The national mail carrier now has until Jan. 15 to vacate its office in the hamlet offices.

Council first contacted Canada Post - telling the organization to get out of the hamlet office - in October 2004. This latest deadline extension marks the seventh one granted to Canada Post since then, said Elwood Johnston, the Kugaaruk SAO.

After being ignored for almost a year, council got serious and imposed a Sept. 30 deadline.

Their offices are overcrowded and hamlet employees are working in the hallways, said Johnston. Council backed down after Canada Post revealed that its temporary solution was to limit mail delivery to just once a week.

When Canada Post didn't find a new home, they were given until Nov. 1, but still failed to provide a permanent solution.

"Canada Post came back with a bunch of temporary fixes. We don't want temporary. We also didn't want to disrupt mail service over Christmas," said Johnston.

Canada Post's John Caines wouldn't reveal the options presented to the Kugaaruk council, but did say that before Jan. 15 a "permanent option" would be given to them.

He said the organization is now in negotiation with a business to provide a home for the post office.